Humanity’s Biggest Blunders: Our Top 12 Biggest Mistakes in History

Humanity achieved the impossible. We’ve defeated gravity to stand on the moon, come together to dominate nature, and discovered many of the universe’s deepest secrets. 

But our accomplishments don’t tell the whole story. We’ve also made some massive blunders along the way. 

The Biggest Mistakes in History

Discover how our species messed up, from the beginning of recorded time through today. Sometimes I’m awed at how far we’ve come despite these massive flaws.

Leaving the Trees

A surprised looking monkey in the brush.
Photo Credit; Rafal_Barnas via Shutterstock.com.

English writer Douglas Adams once proposed that leaving the trees in the first place was humanity’s biggest mistake. 

We’d still be one with nature and could have avoided the other horrific errors on this list. 

Genocide

Adolf Hitler giving a Nazi Salute in Germany. 1939.
Photo Credit: Everett Collection via Shutterstock.com.

Humanity’s biggest flaw is the tendency to commit genocide against those we deem “different.” 

People engaged in numerous genocides in our long and sordid history, and we can only hope we’ve learned from these atrocious events. 

Othering

A professional black man stands by himself in the office while in the background, his white collegues point and laugh at him.
Photo Credit: Pixel-Shot via Shutterstock.com.

Genocide starts with putting people in boxes. Our refusal to recognize each other’s humanity often leads to atrocities. 

Social Media

Female social media influencer holding a "follow" sign in one hand and a "like & subscribe" sign in the other.
Photo Credit: Daxiao Productions via Shutterstock.com.

Social media was supposed to keep us connected, but instead, it allowed the worst aspects of humanity to shine through and multiply. People feel comfortable sharing their darkest thoughts through the relative safety of their keyboards. 

Plastics

group of multi colored plastic shopping bags
Photo Credit: Chones via Shutterstock.com.

We invented a nearly indestructible material and then proceeded to litter the world with it. Plastics destroyed ecosystems and even our own health. 

Refusal To Learn

A stubborn man is shouting with his fingers plugging his ears to prove he's not listening.
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Those who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it. Humans don’t learn; thus, we keep repeating the same mistakes that doomed our ancestors. 

Separating Ourselves from Nature

An older woman enjoys the solitude of nature at a river bank in the fall.
Photo Credit: Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko via Shutterstock.com.

Humans are animals, yet our egos often thrust us into a position above the rest of the natural world. We feel entitled to its bounty yet somehow immune from its adverse effects. 

The idea that we’re someone better than nature will ultimately cause our own destruction. 

And Destroying It

Dead dried out trees on a beach to represent climate change.
Photo Credit: Stephen Bonk via Shutterstock.com.

Humans don’t think twice about plowing entire forests to make room for livestock or condos. However, some of our greatest discoveries came from nature. We’ve found cures for exotic diseases inside the very forests we’re destroying. 

Corporations Are People

A faceless businessman holding up two workers on puppet strings, showcasing that they're simply puppets in his quest for profits.
Photo Credit: Sergey Nivens via Shutterstock.com.

The US has made some horrible legal decisions, but Citizens United stands as one of the worst. It granted corporations all the legal rights and protections of “We the People,” with no accountability. 

Fearing Nuclear Power

A Nuclear power plant on a clear day next to a pretty lake which reflects the plant.
Photo Credit: vlastas via Shutterstock.com.

Nuclear power offers clean energy that would help turn the tide in the fight against climate change. However, we refuse to harness the energy for fear of it’s great power. 

Profit First

An evil looking boss sits in his office counting his money.
Photo Credit: Fancy Studio via Shutterstock.com.

Many human cultures tend to put profits above people. We can’t get over our base animal instincts that force us to horde resources, so our entire planet suffers. 

War

Ruins of buildings representing a warzone.
Photo Credit: Polarpx via Shutterstock.com.

Humans have waged war against each other since the dawn of civilization. You’d think with our superior intellect, we’d find ways to resolve our problems without resorting to violence. 

Yes, There is a Real Poverty Trap in America

hands holding an empty wallet to represent poverty
Photo credit: StanislauV via Shutterstock.com.

We often think of third world countries when we talk about poverty, but it’s thriving right here in the US.

Here’s the truth about America’s Poverty Trap.

Author: Melanie Allen

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Pursuing Your Passions, Travel, Wellness, Hobbies, Finance, Gaming, Happiness

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation and is a certified happiness life coach. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.